Integrated oilfield decision making system and method

Abstract

A method for controlling operations during construction of a subsurface wellbore includes measuring a plurality of wellbore construction parameters. At least one wellbore state parameter is calculated from the wellbore construction parameters in a computer. A plurality of users to communicate with the computer to enable access at least one of the measured wellbore construction parameters and the at least one wellbore state parameter. Depending on a assigned tasks, such user may receive task specific wellbore construction parameters and selected wellbore state parameters for display when a requested is communicated to the computer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling operations during construction of a subsurface wellbore, comprising:
 measuring a plurality of wellbore construction parameters;   in a computer, calculating at least one wellbore state parameter from the measured wellbore construction parameters;   enabling a plurality of users to communicate with the computer to enable access to at least one of the plurality of measured wellbore construction parameters and the at least one calculated wellbore state parameter;   wherein each of the plurality of users has respective assigned tasks entered into the computer, wherein communication with the computer by at least a first one of the plurality of users results in transmission by the computer of selected ones of the measured wellbore construction parameters and at least one corresponding calculated wellbore state parameter, the selected wellbore construction parameters and corresponding calculated wellbore state parameter related to the assigned tasks of the at least a first communicating user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the assigned tasks for the at least a first one of the plurality of users is entered into the computer at a beginning of wellbore construction operations. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the assigned tasks for the at least a first one of the plurality of users is entered into the computer after a beginning of wellbore construction operations. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising upon communication with the computer of the at least a first one of the plurality of users, the computer communicates a notification to at least a second one of the plurality of users, the notification comprising at least one of:
 indication that the at least a first one of the plurality of users has communicated with the computer; and 
 the selected ones of the wellbore construction parameters and at least one corresponding wellbore state parameter communicated to the at least a first one of the plurality of users. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising at least one of the first one of the plurality of users and the second one of the plurality of users communicating to the computer a change in at least one parameter used by the computer to calculate the at least one wellbore state parameter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the at least a first user and the at least a second user communicate with each other prior to communicating to the computer the change in the at least one parameter used by the computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the computer sends a notification to at least one of the plurality of users if the wellbore state parameter deviates by a predetermined amount from an expected value as a result of the communicated change in the at least one parameter used by the computer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the at least one of the plurality of users comprises at least one of the at least a first user and the at least a second user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising at least one of the plurality of users changing the at least one parameter used by the computer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one of the plurality of users comprises at least one of the at least a first user and the at least a second user. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least a first user and the at least a second user communicate with each other prior to changing the at least one parameter used by the computer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the computer communicating a notification to at least one selected user when the wellbore state parameter reaches a predetermined value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one selected user is determined based on the at least one selected user's tasks entered into the computer and the type of wellbore state parameter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of wellbore construction parameters comprise well log measurements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the well log measurements are obtained using at least one of a wireline well logging instrument and a logging while drilling instrument. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one wellbore state parameter comprises at least one of depths of tops of selected subsurface formations, existence of a hydrocarbon bearing formation and deviation of a wellbore trajectory from a predetermined trajectory. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein communication with the computer by the plurality of users comprises at least one of using public telephone systems, wireless telephone/data communication systems, dedicated satellite communication systems, and the Internet. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling operations during construction of a subsurface wellbore, comprising:
 measuring a plurality of wellbore construction parameters;   in a first computer, calculating at least a first wellbore state parameter from at least a first subset of the measured wellbore construction parameters;   enabling a plurality of users to communicate with the first computer to enable access to at least one of the plurality of measured wellbore construction parameters and the at least a first calculated wellbore state parameter;   in at least a second computer, calculating at least a second wellbore state parameter from at least a second subset of the measured wellbore construction parameters; and   wherein each of the plurality of users is enabled access to the at least a first computer or the at least a second computer, the access enabling display to an accessing one of the plurality of users of selected ones of the measured wellbore construction parameters and the at least a first and the at least a second wellbore state parameters and wherein the at least a second calculated wellbore state parameter is calculated based on commands communicated to the at least a second computer by an operator thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of users has assigned tasks related to the subsurface wellbore construction entered into at least one of the at least a first computer and the at least a second computer at a beginning of wellbore construction operations. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of users has assigned tasks related to the subsurface wellbore construction entered into at least one of the at least a first computer and the at least a second computer after a beginning of wellbore construction operations. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising upon communication with the at least a first computer or the at least a second computer of at least a first one of the plurality of users, the at least a first or at least a second computer communicates a notification to at least a second one of the plurality of users, the notification comprising at least one of:
 indication that the at least a first one of the plurality of users has communicated with the computer; and 
 selected ones of the wellbore construction parameters and at least one corresponding wellbore state parameter requested to be displayed on a device operated by the at least a first one of the plurality of users. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising at least one of the first one of the plurality of users and the second one of the plurality of users communicating to the at least a first or at least a second computer a change in at least one parameter used by the at least a first or at least a second computer to calculate the at least a first or second wellbore state parameter. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the at least a first user and the at least a second user communicate with each other prior to communicating to the computer the change in the at least one parameter used by the at least a first or at least a second computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the at least a first or at least a second computer sends a notification to at least one of the plurality of users if the at least a first or at least a second wellbore state parameter deviates by a predetermined amount from an expected value as a result of the communicated change in the at least one parameter used by the at least a first or at least a second computer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the at least one of the plurality of users to which the notification is sent comprises at least one of the at least a first user and the at least a second user. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the at least a first or at least a second computer communicating a notification to at least one of the plurality of users when the at least a first or second wellbore state parameter reaches a predetermined value. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the at least one of the plurality of users is determined based on the at least one of the plurality user's tasks entered into the computer and a type of the at least a first or second wellbore state parameter. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of wellbore construction parameters comprise well log measurements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the well log measurements are obtained using at least one of a wireline well logging instrument and a logging while drilling instrument. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the at least one of a first and a second wellbore state parameter comprises at least one of depths of tops of selected subsurface formations, existence of a hydrocarbon bearing formation and deviation of a wellbore trajectory from a predetermined trajectory. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18  wherein communication with the computer by any one of the plurality of users comprises at least one of using public telephone systems, wireless telephone/data communication systems, dedicated satellite communication systems, and the Internet. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the at least a first computer and the at least a second computer are embodied in a same physical computer, and wherein the at least a second wellbore state parameter is calculated based on control inputs to the at least a second computer provided by the at least a second user communicated to the at least a second computer using a remote communication device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the remote communication device comprises at least one of a terminal connected to at least one of public telephone systems, wireless telephone/data communication systems, dedicated satellite communication systems, and the Internet. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the at least a first computer and the at least a second computer are embodied in different physical computers, and wherein the at least a second wellbore state parameter is calculated based on control inputs to the at least a second computer provided by the at least a second user. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the at least a second user provides the control inputs to the at least a second user with control terminal proximate the at least a second computer and the at least a second computer communicates with the at least a first computer using at least one of public telephone systems, wireless telephone/data communication systems, dedicated satellite communication systems, and the Internet. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising a subset of the plurality of users each communicating control inputs to at least one of the at least a first computer, the at least a second computer and a corresponding computer operated by one or more of the subset of the plurality of users, and further comprising calculating at least one corresponding wellbore state parameter based on the communicated control inputs. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the communicating by the subset of the plurality of users is performed using at least one of an operating terminal proximate the corresponding computer, and remote communication using at least one of public telephone systems, wireless telephone/data communication systems, dedicated satellite communication systems, and the Internet.